Method and system for creating patient-specific instrumentation for chondral graft transfer

Abstract

A system for creating a patient-specific instrument model for chondral graft plugging comprises a bone model generator for producing a bone / cartilage model of an articular region of a bone from images thereof. A defect geometry identifier identifies a graft geometry from a defect region of said bone / cartilage model. A donor locator locates an autograft at a donor site or identifies an allograft from a database, using said bone / cartilage model and the graft geometry. A patient-specific instrument model generator creates a model of a graft-plugging patient-specific instrument from said bone / cartilage model, and the graft geometry, the graft-plugging patient-specific instrument model comprising a bone / cartilage interface surface shaped as a function of the bone / cartilage model for the at least one graft-plugging patient-specific instrument to be selectively positioned on the bone / cartilage to pose the autograft or the allograft at the defect region.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]The present application claims priority on U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 590,157, incorporated herewith by reference.FIELD OF THE APPLICATION[0002]The present application relates to chondral graft transfer, and more particularly to a method and system for the creation of patient-specific instrumentation for performing chondral graft transfer, for instance in an osteoarticular transfer procedure for the knee.BACKGROUND OF THE ART[0003]In pre-knee replacement treatment for arthritis, cartilage replacement is often used on some patients (e.g., younger active patients) as a stopgap measure to delay the need for a complete total knee arthroplasty (a.k.a, total knee replacement). There are numerous possible treatments involving replacement of the cartilage with autografts or with allografts.[0004]One such autograft treatment is the osteoarticular transfer, referred to as OATS, designed to remove cartilage from one area and graft it ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This patent is about a new method and system for creating patient-specific instruments to perform chondral graft transfer. The method involves determining the shape of a defect in a bone / cartilage model, identifying the location of a donor (often a patient's own cartilage or a database of allografts), and creating a model of the graft-removing or plugging patient-specific instrument. The instrument is designed to be selectively positioned on the bone / cartilage to remove the defect. The system includes a bone model generator, a defect geometry identifier, a donor locator, and a patient-specific instrument model generator. The technical effects of this patent are improved accuracy and precision in creating patient-specific instruments for chondral graft transfer, which can lead to better outcomes for patients with joint disorders.

Problems solved by technology

Indeed, with improper graft shapes, there may result some difficulties in aligning the hyaline cartilage in thickness and / or curvature.

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